From Water to Water—Day Four

He cooked them breakfast. Surely they would be hungry after a long night’s work fishing the Galilee. The morning’s mist still veiled the rising sun as the fishermen’s boats moved slowly to shore. They could just make out the glowing charcoal fire with a man standing there. He called to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” (John 21:5)

The western shore of the Galilee, near the traditional site where Jesus appeared to His disciples and restored Peter.

Here at Tabgha on the Northwestern shore of Galilee, it’s easy to envision Jesus’ appearance to His disciples, the miraculous catch of fish, and Peter’s restoration as described in John’s Gospel. Sights and smells that would feel very familiar to Jesus and his followers surround us. We arrived there in the early morning after a short drive along the western shore, leaving behind the Jesus Boat and our second visit to the Yigan Allon Center.

Although there is no evidence connecting the boat to Jesus or his disciples, it is typical of vessels plying the Galilee during the first century A.D.

What's become known popularly as the Jesus Boat is an ancient craft from the 1st century AD, discovered in 1986. It's remarkably preserved by the archaeologists who painstakingly recovered the remains of this ancient boat. Capable of handling tons of cargo, the boat offered a significant upgrade to beasts of burden when it came to trading in the region.

It's likely that the boat which made landfall near where Jesus cooked a breakfast of fish on a charcoal fire would have looked much like this one. Peter's bare feet would have launched from the wooden ribs as he dove over the side to wade ashore. And the rough-hewn wooden planks that cover its flanks would have supported fishing nets as they dried in the sun while being inspected for possible repair.

Israel offers dimension to the stories we all know from Genesis to John's Revelation. It lends depth to language that otherwise lay flat on the page apart from our imagination. You can almost smell the charcoal and sizzling fish.

More of that rich, 3D experience awaited us at our next stop in Capernaum. In Mathew 9 it's described as "his own city." Jesus spent much of his time in the area of Galilee in or near Capernaum. It was a fishing village near the home of four of the Apostles, including Peter. The ancient ruins feature a Fourth Century synagogue built upon the ruins of another from the First Century.

Fourth Century Synagogue

The Seat of Moses, a place of honor for visiting rabbis, sages, and local leaders who would have taught from here, a position of authority.

This ancient city also houses a church built over the ruins of Peter's home. The Church of St. Peter straddles the ruins of the home, which is surrounded in turn by the foundations of an ancient Fifth Century Byzantine church. The current Roman Catholic church is part of the Franciscan monastery in Capernaum. It would have been here that Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever (Luke 4:38-39). As early as the First Century, the site was venerated as the home of Peter.

The main building associated with the home of Peter is seen within the octagonal wall apparent in the foreground.

Though the town was the center of Jesus' public ministry in Galilee after he left the much smaller Nazareth, He formally cursed Capernaum for the failure of the city as a whole to recognize Him as Messiah. Our next stop, Korazim, suffered the same fate along with Bethsaida. All were cursed by Jesus for their unbelief when the inhabitants failed to repent despite the miracles the Lord performed there.

Korazim sits in the Galilean hills overlooking the Sea. It's constructed of the black basalt common to the region. Olive oil production, as evidenced by the presses discovered among the ruins seemed to be an economic mainstay for the town.

Spread over about 25 acres, the ruins bear witness to a vibrant First Century community.

Small windows admit light and fresh air to the stone dwellings.

A ritual cleansing pool, or mikveh, attends the synagogue in Korazim.

From Korazim, we traveled to a traditional site for Jesus famous teaching on the Mount of Beatitudes, or as one of our guides named it, the Mount of Beautiful Attitudes. :-) The mount has been developed by the Catholic Church as the site of a chapel with surrounding gardens.

The Mount of Beatitudes as seen from the area of Capernaum 

The area features teaching amphitheaters where visitors can hold brief services. It was here that Pastor Randy took time to encourage us from the Word. Afterward, we enjoyed some time to tour the chapel and gardens. The late afternoon sun glanced through a partly cloudy sky, warming our hearts as it did the early spring flowers.

The day was waning, but a final stop awaited us. Before we could return to our kibbutz, Ma'agan, to eat and rest, we had to cross the Jordan. The same river where John the Baptist immersed Jesus at the start of the Lord's public ministry. How could we pass up the opportunity to water baptize those who wished to enter those waters?

Rich teaching and worship accompanied the 60-plus people who chose to be water baptized. Thanks, Noah for the pic. :-)

More than 60 people chose water baptism, some for the first time and others as an expression of re-dedication. Audra Cross led us in worship, a rich, heartfelt chorus arose in response. We even had the privilege of baptizing a few folks who weren't a part of any group and were told that they couldn't be baptized as a result. They'd come all the way from Texas and we welcomed them into our B4 family on that day. What a joy it was to rejoice in Christ together!

Much love to Noah Bautista, who shot a ton of photos of the baptisms.